Ethiopian Stripe Wrap Scarf

This oversized, unisex Ethiopian Stripe Wrap Scarf is made of pure Ethiopian cotton. It features a classic stripe pattern and is finished with a hand-knotted fringe. Each piece is sustainable and ethically HANDMADE with love in Ethiopia.

This product is made by SLATE + SALT, a brand dedicated to bringing a curated collection of modern, one-of-a-kind pieces while preserving traditional techniques and supporting the Fair Trade movement. They work closely with small social enterprises to facilitate dignified working opportunities in areas of extreme poverty giving a positive impact for rural artisans in underdeveloped nations to support their families and continue to live in their own communities.

Fairtrade restores dignity to the artisans and assists women to become role models to their communities. Economic empowerment gives them the opportunity to stay in their villages and they will be less likely to migrate to urban areas.

Specificallt to. make this scarf they cooperate with Sabahar, a company that strives to create respectful, ethical, and sustainable work opportunities for artisans in Ethiopia and showcase the talents of their weavers to the world. Inspired by the ancient weaving traditions of Ethiopia, they create exquisite textiles using natural fibers. The beauty of handspun thread is a rare commodity in our quickly changing world of mechanized textile factories.

From the spinning of the thread to the weaving of the fabric, the process is done entirely by hand. The skill of hand spinning is passed down from mother to daughter and most rural women spin at their homes for extra income. Honoring this tradition, Sabahar purchases hand-spun cotton thread from a network of women throughout Addis Ababa. As most spinning is done during free time, it is a way to support women with supplemental income.

Handweaving has been a way of life for centuries in Ethiopia. Even today, almost all of the traditional Ethiopian clothing is made on handlooms. The art of weaving is passed down from father to son, thus almost all weavers in Ethiopia are men. The techniques have not changed much for centuries, but the patterns, colors, and designs have become increasingly sophisticated. A weaver can produce one to three scarves in a day depending on the level of detail of the design.

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